Title: Visitation

Author: lildreamer

Rating: T for scary images

Pairings: there may be one by the end; no guarantees though

Spoilers: none for TBAA. But if you've never read the book or seen the movie, there are major spoilers for "The Visitation."

Summary: Crossover. Everyone has their demons…even angels.

Disclaimer: I do not own TBAA or any of its characters. They belong to CBS. And the novel "The Visitation" belongs to Frank Peretti.

A/N: This is my first TBAA fanfic, so please be nice. Soli Deo Gloria!

All right, on with the story…
Travis Jordan looked through the cage door at the black Labrador retriever resting inside. It lay there, staring back at him with tired eyes. As he gazed at the sick dog, the haunting images returned. Images he could not erase from his mind. Memories. There she was, lying in the brush, her hands and feet bound with barbed wire, a chisel, of all things, drilled through her heart. The memory of that horrible day came back fresh and raw. He closed his eyes, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. Losing his wife had been hard enough, and now Max was sick. That dog was all he had left of his wife. He couldn't bear to lose him, too.

He touched the cage door, his eyes locking with the dog's big, brown ones. A tear slipped from his eye and ran down his cheek. What was left of his world felt like it was crumbling around him.

The sound of footsteps approaching caught his attention. Quickly brushing the tear from his face, he pushed himself up from his crouched position beside the cage. He heard the door at the far end of the kennel swing open. He turned and smiled sadly at the blonde veterinarian. She hesitantly approached him, her hands buried in the pockets of her white lab coat.

"I'm very sorry I couldn't do more for your dog," she apologized, glancing at the lab then back at its owner. "I'm afraid at this point we're talking comfort not cure."

Travis closed his eyes, the reality of it all finally sinking in. It seemed he was destined to be alone. "There's nothing you can give him?"

The doctor shook her head, regretfully. "If we'd caught it sooner…"

Travis sighed, accepting the verdict. "You did the best you could." He looked at his dog, sadly. "Can I take him home?"

"Of course." The doctor turned toward the doorway just as a pretty redhead wandered into the room, carrying a small black and white terrier. "Monica, can you get Max ready to go?"

The redhead smiled warmly. "Sure thing, Morgan. Just as soon as I put Mr. Dog back in his cage."

"Travis, there are some papers you need to fill out before you leave. Gloria can help you with those."

A short brunette walked into the room, her head buried in a clipboard. She looked up at them and smiled, adjusting her glasses. "I just need you to sign a few things then you and Max can be on your way."

"All right." Travis followed the woman out of the kennel, the doctor trailing behind.

Unnoticed by Travis and Morgan, Monica and Gloria exchanged a brief glance as the trio walked past.

Seven minutes later Travis was carrying Max to his truck, the poor dog wrapped up in a warm blanket. He laid the dog across the passenger seat then walked back around to thank the vet and her assistants. The three women smiled, wishing him well.

They watched as he climbed into the truck and drove off. Morgan turned, not thinking much, just wondering, feeling the same old why that came at times such as this, and went back inside, leaving Monica and Gloria alone in the parking lot. They looked on as the black truck swung out of the lot and merged with the steady flow of traffic.

"So he's our new assignment, Tess?" Monica asked the older, dark-skinned angel that had just appeared beside them.

Tess nodded. "Travis used to be a man of God. A minister at the church. But three years ago, all that changed."

"What happened?" Gloria wondered.

"His wife died. Murdered in cold blood. They never caught the killer."

"Poor man. No wonder he's so angry…and so sad." Monica's heart filled with sympathy for the man. He would have to live with this horrible past until the day he died. "Andrew, were you there? When Travis' wife died?" she asked the blonde angel that had come out of nowhere and was making his way toward the group.

He thought for a moment and shook his head. "No. She was probably someone else's assignment."

"What can we do?" Gloria asked.

"He's hurting, baby," Tess explained. "When he lost his wife, he also lost his faith. He needs someone to help him face his demons. To help him understand that the one he turned his back on three years ago is the only one that can give him the peace he's been searching for." She glanced up at the sky, a troubled look on her face. "And Lord knows, he's gonna need it."

Monica saw the growing fear in her friend's eyes. "What's wrong, Tess?"

"Something's coming, angel girl," Tess answered darkly. All three of her charges gave her concerned looks. "Something terrible has been unleashed in this town…"

Hmm…I wonder what that means? Review to find out!